Give and Take, February 2013

'Three Leaves'

'Gold 'N Ice'

Horsetail Falls, Northside Drive location, February 14, 2013

Horsetail Falls, Southside Drive location, February 15, 2013

As most of my friends already know, I experienced a stressful and traumatic event at the end of last year. On December 20th, five days before Christmas, my vehicle was robbed in a parking lot in Anaheim Hills, Southern California. I had seventy four items taken out of my vehicle, with a total replacement value of over $17,000. I was left with a feeling of disbelief, shock, violation and anger. All of the photographic equipment that I had carefully and painstakingly collected over many years was taken, along with my complete set of golf clubs, golf shoes, etc.. Also taken, an iPod, a gym bag with goggles, flippers, ear plugs, etc., the keys to my security gate, a Fastrack transponder, etc. etc.

Now just over two months later, I have replaced my photographic equipment and feel that, somehow someway, this occurred to me so that I would end up with better equipment than what I had; better equipment that I have wanted for some time but could never bring myself to buy. In retrospect, it is not clear to me why I prevented myself from getting the camera equipment that I wanted, and I am appropriately reminded of the phrase, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade”.

Recently, I got back from my first photo shoot with this new equipment, a few days in Yosemite National Park, where the initial objective was to shoot the yearly occurrence that happens during the last two weeks of February, Horsetails Falls lighting up and giving the appearance that it is on fire. If Horsetail Fall is flowing and the weather conditions are just right, the setting sun illuminates the waterfall, making it glow orange and red, as can be seen in the two images of Horsetail Falls that I captured on February 14 & 15, 2013.

I have also posted a couple of other images from that shoot that can be described as ‘abstracts in nature’.  I am finding these tighter images more fun and satisfying to capture these days, particularly when the larger landscape opportunities are more mundane or uninspiring due to the weather conditions particular for that day or season. These abstracts, for me, tend to be more creative, unique and expressive when I get to design something from nothing, from whence I live up to my own term ~ 'LiquidDesigns'.